It Is Dangerous To Go To Church (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2)

"It is dangerous to go to church. Be on your guard when you get near a church, for there are some terrible things that can happen to you there."[1]

"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." - Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

There is a terrible danger of presumption in any conversation with God. We don't have a lot of experience dealing with infinite, almighty deity and so we assume that we should treat God like some other relationship that we have. Even our vocabulary is limited to words such as lord and king and master and patron that we would apply to powerful people in society because there just isn't a category in which to place God. Or, in a more democratic vein, we borrow from the language of family and relationship, father and brother and friend.  These are all good, but they mask the fact that our relationship with God is unlike any other: "God is in heaven and you are on earth."

So these titles, rather than being avenues of understanding into the character and nature of God actually mask his face, hidden behind the platitudes and wisdom and cultural baggage that is also attached to those names. We feel that we know him. We think have a handle on what he wants. Knowing that, we avoid his displeasure and try (covertly, so as to never reveal even to ourselves what we are doing) to gain our desired outcome. The face of God has come to look, surprisingly, a lot like our own.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:9

One might understand the basics of God's character, but it is a great presumption to know how that character works itself out in divine action because we cannot follow the calculus of his mind, the dept of his compassion or the resources at his disposal. Trying to memorize the facts about God is a dangerous business, because, though his character may be unchanging, his actions are ever his own; dynamic, varied, surprising and vast. He acts at his own discretion and does not need to explain himself to you or me.

We only know that God is good, he is powerful and that he cares deeply for us. The rest is really up to Him.

[1] Peterson, Eugene H.. Every Step an Arrival (p. 153). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Call to Worship: God's Chosen People (Colossians 3:12-17)

Call to Worship: God's Chosen People

L1: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

L2: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

C:  Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

L1: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

L2: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

C: Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen

Church Introductions to Jesus

This question was presented to me while I was having coffee with a pastor friend of mine. For him, it has been the meat of his wrestling with God over the course of a few pastorates. As people become less familiar with the language and culture of the Bible, the church and the Christian faith, how do churches facilitate the process in keeping with the mandate to make disciples?

When we speak of making disciples, we both refer not just to the initial apprenticing to Jesus (conversion), but the lifelong apprenticeship (discipleship). The means that we use for the latter may obstruct those interested in the former. Further, what is the role of Sunday morning in this? I didn't have a good answer for him.

But I was reminded of a book that we had both read (Vertical Church) where the author, James MacDonald insists that the church must focus on what is available nowhere else. So I followed that thought and see where it led me. I've come up with three:

1. The Presence of God. God is unique, and wholly other. The church strives to invite people to meet God, with all the emotions that can bring. Paul says, But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in ... they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (1 Cor. 14:24a, 25b). His presence is solely at his discretion and that is what make's it unique. It cannot be manufactured. The genuine sense of his presence, the conviction of his Spirit and the miraculous cannot conjured up and therefore act as pointers to a God who is not like us but is with us.
2. The Power of God's Word. The words of God are unique. They are life-changing, heaven-initiated revelation. These words are the authority on which the truth-claims of the faith are based. Paul says, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.." (Eph. 3:10)  People were hungry for this (Matt. 7:28)
3. The People of God. The love expressed with the community of God's people is unique. Jesus testified: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35) 

Jesus often drew crowds. The early church drew crowds (Acts 2:47). These crowds came because they hungered for the presence of God, the power of God's word and new identity as His people.

2 Timothy 2:22: Pennysaver Messages to the Church

"Eric G. We want to hear your voice & make sure you're O.K. Please. It's been 6-months, time heals all. Please call home. Love, Mom, Dad, Heather." 

"Please pray for Rose. I need a job."

"Happy birthday Dad! With love. From your girls, TJ and Sarah." 

- Pennysaver 23544, July 9, 2014.

I found these notes in the "Messages" section of my local weekly mailer, tucked between the "Animals/Pets" and the churches listed in "Neighborhood News" There is something simple, public and raw about these declarations that makes me want to join them.  

This is one of the places that church is at its best and at its worst. At its best, it is the family that grows, laughs and cries together before God. "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 Cor. 12:26) At its worst, it is that same family, but torn apart by selfishness. Not pain or sorrow, but selfishness. That's why Paul advised, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" (Phil. 2:3) 

Obviously, these people didn't look to the church for either. They rather posted (literally!) their concerns to the pages destined for recycling bins. Church was a worse bet than Pennysaver for sympathy. I am a worse bet than Pennysaver for sympathy, most days. But I did stop and pray for each. And I ask you to go out of your way to be the attentive ears and extended hands of Jesus this week. 

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18

If I Could Tell You One Thing...Church (Ephesians 4)

These were group-time lessons used for Cornerstone's Family Camp. The room was split into three groups. The speaker introduced the topic (Key Idea) the led the groups through a series of questions and then had them brainstorm actions. Each topic took 20 minutes.

Key Idea
The church is God’s means of growing servants.

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. – Ephesians 4:4-6

There is no practical spiritual growth apart from the church. Why? Because the church is the training ground for servants, where those who have been transformed by the grace of God practice what it really means.

The problem comes when a diverse group of high-powered and high-pride individuals come together, it can strangle God’s mission in a community. Getting off our agenda and onto God’s agenda. Building up others instead of building up ourselves. These are tough habits to replace. What should a church focus on to help its people grow? The Bible teaches us in the first half of chapter 4: unity and service.

Questions
These are questions you should ask yourself about this passage:

Why do you think that unity is such a big problem in churches?

What are the antidotes presented in this chapter?

Action
If we want to be the healthy, growing servants, list three things we should do, based on this chapter? Don’t use the word “remember” or “understand” or similar words in your answer.